Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 53

Chapter 2 – Sankhya Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना ते यदा स्थास्यति निश्चला ।
समाधावचला बुद्धिस्तदा योगमवाप्स्यसि ॥

Transliteration

śrutivipratipannā te yadā sthāsyati niścalā .
samādhāvacalā buddhistadā yogamavāpsyasi ॥

Meaning

When your intellect, now bewildered by conflicting teachings, stands unshaken and immovable in samadhi, then you will attain yoga.

Word meanings

श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना – bewildered by hearing conflicting teachings
ते – your
यदा – when
स्थास्यति – will stand firm
निश्चला – unshaken, free from distraction
समाधौ – in samadhi, in the Self
अचला – immovable, steadfast
बुद्धिः – intellect
तदा – then
योगम् – yoga
अवाप्स्यसि – you will attain

Anvaya (word order)

श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना ते बुद्धिः यदा समाधौ निश्चला अचला (च) स्थास्यति, तदा (त्वं) योगम् अवाप्स्यसि ।

Explanation

The previous verse spoke of crossing delusion; this one describes the state beyond. Krishna says that Arjuna's intellect is now ‘shruti-vipratipanna’ — bewildered by hearing many teachings, views and scriptural arguments. On one side family dharma, on the other the warrior's duty; non-violence here, the protection of justice there — amid so many conflicting ideas his intellect has lost its bearings.

Krishna says that when this intellect becomes ‘nishchala’ and ‘achala’ and rests in ‘samadhi’, yoga will be attained. ‘Nishchala’ means not shaken by the storm of conflicting ideas, and ‘achala’ means, once steady, never wavering again. Together the two words picture an intellect as unshakeable as a building on deep foundations.

Shankara takes ‘samadhi’ here to mean the Self, in which the mind is collected; when the intellect is established in the Self, the yoga of samadhi born of discernment is attained. Ramanuja says that when the intellect, purified by desireless karma yoga, becomes steady in the nature of the Self, the yoga of Self-realisation is attained. Karma yoga is thus the means, and a steady intellect its fruit.

The verse also sets up a major shift of theme in the chapter. On hearing the words ‘an intellect steady in samadhi’, Arjuna becomes curious about what such a person is like. From this arises, in the next verse, his famous question: what are the marks of the sthitaprajna, the one of steady wisdom?

In our age, when conflicting ideas, advice and information surround us on every side, the verse teaches that true peace and clarity come not from outer noise but from inner steadiness.

Context

In 2.52 Krishna said that dispassion follows once delusion is crossed. Here He says that yoga is attained when the intellect, unshaken by conflicting views, rests in samadhi. On hearing this, in the next verse (2.54) Arjuna asks about the marks of the sthitaprajna, the person of steady wisdom.

Life lesson

When conflicting opinions and advice surround you, anchor your understanding in a deep and steady truth. Clarity comes not from outer noise but from inner stillness.

Key terms

Shruti-vipratipanna: (an intellect) bewildered by conflicting teachings
Nishchala-achala: unshaken and immovable, never wavering
Samadhi: complete steadiness of the mind in the Self